ONSTED — For the past several years, students at Onsted Community Schools have adopted families for the Christmas holiday, using resources and donations from the school and community to meet their immediate needs.

This year, with more than $4,000 in donations of presents, gift cards and toys, Communities in Schools of Lenawee and students and staff at Onsted adopted 27 families. More than two dozen spent several hours after school Friday sorting and wrapping the gifts that were delivered to the recipients Friday afternoon.

Middle school principal Tom Durbin said the students, through Onsted CIS coach Andrew Forks, targeted specific needs for each family, from basic household and hygiene items to clothing and toys for the children.

Durbin said he was grateful for the support demonstrated by the community and district.

“The outpouring has been tremendous,” Durbin said. “We have a super-generous staff and community.”

Local businesses and members of the health community also arranged for services to those families needing basic dental or medical attention, Durbin said.

Onsted ninth-grader Abbie McCullough was one of the volunteers wrapping presents Friday at Onsted Middle School. She said the project was brought to the students’ attention by Forks, and she and her peers immediately accepted the task.

“We wanted to help others out and put joy in people’s hearts,” she said.

Bruce Freshcorn of Manitou Beach helped his daughter Hailey, 6, wrap gifts in the assembly line Friday. He said he was pleased to see everyone come together to help those who need assistance.

“It gives students a sense of purpose and encourages them to get involved,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there who are unable to do this for themselves. It doesn’t matter who you are. At some point everyone needs help. It can happen to anybody.”

CIS Director Christine MacNaughton said other CIS outreach programs in Lenawee County communities have also worked this season to fill needs. Amy Johnson, site coordinator at Adrian Middle School 7/8, said former teacher Roy Gonzales recently organized Shop With A Hero at Meijer, where children were paired up with area safety personnel and other mentors to look for Christmas gifts for themselves. AMS 5/6 coordinator Susie Kapnick said she helped organize student “adoptions” for Christmas, where staff and students helped buy three gifts for children in need.